Can you paint over varnished wood without sanding? Yes. You certainly can. But you do need to prep it properly first. There are a few ways to do this, but we choose to use an oil-based primer to prepare our varnished wood for new paint. The oil-based primer will stick to varnished or sealed wood.
It is generally not recommended to paint over varnished wood without sanding or priming first. Sanding ensures the paint adheres properly, while priming helps with paint coverage and durability. Skipping these steps can result in peeling or chipping paint.
You can paint over varnished wood as long as you use the right materials and painting process. The best paint to use is a water-based acrylic one. If you're using an oil-based paint only use an oil-based primer, not an acrylic one. “Sweet, this means it can be done!
For one, if you choose not to sand or strip the cabinet, you will need to use a paint that is designed to adhere to varnish and polyurethane. You will also need to use a primer that is designed for this purpose.
Poor paint adhesion is one of the most common consequences of skipping the sanding step. Without sanding, the cabinet surface remains smooth and may have a glossy finish or residual substances that hinder the paint from properly adhering.
Sanding scuffs up the varnish, creating tiny scratches that act as “teeth” for the paint to grab onto. This crucial step ensures a strong, long-lasting bond between the paint and the wood.
We recommend using Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 for glossy surfaces like varnished wood. Zinsser Bulls Eye is a 'bond coat' primer that's great for hard-to-stick surfaces as it offers excellent adhesion without sanding.
While varnished wood does have some resistance to water and light scratches, it can make the surface of the wood non-porous, which can make it difficult for paint to adhere. However, with a little preparation and the right technique, applying paint to your varnished surface couldn't be easier.
Many homeowners wonder if they can paint over polyurethane without sanding. Although sanding is the most tedious part of this project, it's also the most important. Always sand the polyurethane before painting. If you don't invest time in sanding, your paint over polyurethane project won't be a success.
Zinsser BIN
This is a shellac-based paint designed to stick to difficult surfaces like varnished wood.
Liquid sandpaper is also referred to as deglosser and wet sanding. The advantage of using liquid sandpaper instead of regular sandpaper is that it's easier to apply and safer to use. You just rub liquid sandpaper over the object you wish to paint, wait a set amount of time and wipe off.
Even though oil primer smells bad and can be messy to work with, it's the best option for painting over polyurethane because it soaks into wood to form a seal without raising the grain like a latex primer would.
Using sandpaper
It's also a natural and chemical-free way to remove varnish. It can however be labour-intensive: Start with 150-grit sandpaper and sand the entire surface. Then, move onto 220-grit sandpaper and repeat.
Whichever piece of furniture you're painting, you don't have to worry about sanding or priming first. You can get straight into the fun bit! Chalk Paint™ has incredible sticking power and will go onto almost any surface, even varnished pine or laminate.
If you have various stains, shellac Bonding primer is the ideal choice. It can be used to cover rough surfaces and old varnish as well as metal and ceramic.
You go to your nearest hardware store and buy a can of paint stripper, I use the orange stuff, and a putty knife. Then you use them on the wood. After removing as much lacquer as you can, you sand the rest off beginning with a medium grade sandpaper and working to a fine grade.
In most cases only one coat is necessary to prime most surfaces. If excessive absorption occurs over very porous substrates a second coat may be necessary. Spot priming is recommended only under high-hiding topcoat paints. For best results prime entire surface before painting.
Zinsser BIN is shellac-based, whereas 123 is water-based. This makes Zinsser Bullseye 123 a lot quicker and easier to apply. It's also better suited for use on bare wood, or to prime plastic and composite before painting. BIN may be harder to apply, but it is by far the better stain block.
Use 180-grit sandpaper and work the wood until the varnish is no longer glossy. For corners and other tight areas, use a sanding sponge or a bit of sandpaper. It is not necessary to remove all traces of the varnish, but it is critical to remove as much of the glossy finish as possible.
Which Zinsser primer to use on varnished wood? The areas to be decorated should be primed with one full coat of Zinsser B-I-N Primer Sealer, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, allowing a minimum drying time of 45 minutes (in normal drying conditions).
Marine Spar Varnish can be recoated in 10-12 hours at the recommended coverage rate. The varnish can be recoated without sanding up to 24 hours. Beyond 24 hours, sanding is required.
If your cabinets have peeling paint, deep scratches, or a very glossy finish, you may have to lightly sand them so that paint can properly adhere to the surface. Cabinets with significant damage or those made of materials such as laminate may also require special preparation.